‘If
you think education is expensive, try ignorance’ – never has that
observation been more relevant.
The country – along with much of
the world – is being pounded by the economic crisis. Unemployment
is rising while everyone agrees we need more qualified school
leavers.
..Their
plight belongs to all of us, for it will certainly cost us all.
We
have a government that has talked up its intention to invest in
infrastructure. Surely, for a nation proud of its achievements and
ambitious for its future, that begins with intellectual
infrastructure?
Other countries are already upping their
investment in public education. They have recognised that, when times
are tough, priming the knowledge pump reaps returns. The head of the
International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, noted in January
2010 that “investment in education in stimulus packages will have
much more effect than tax cuts.”
Much of this education
investment around the world has been directed at teaching; quality
learning is, after all, an outcome of quality teaching.
Attracting
and retaining the teachers we need comes down to how much we’re
willing to pay. Right now, New Zealand teachers have one of the
lowest starting salaries in the developed world, yet they work some
of the longest hours. After 15 years’ experience, a New Zealand
secondary teacher’s salary is 17% lower than the OECD average.
The PPTA is asking for a 4% salary increase. Comparatively,
that’s moderate.
The teachers of Queensland and South Australia have just been awarded
double digit percentage pay rises.
Socialist
Appeal supports the action of the PPTA to secure a new collective
agreement and a 4% pay rise.
The
PPTA have called a one day strike on the 15th September as
part of their campaign to secure a pay rise, as well as low level
industrial action in the classroom.
Socialist
Appeal says:
-
Support
the Industrial Action -
Defend
State Education
-
Call
a generalised movement against the government cuts